15.4

Chapter 15.4 All's Fair

3025

WhiteBase Bridge

Ko

Day 3.

"I almost can't believe it." I mutter staring into the Digital Holomap that was displayed on the bridge of Whitebase.

"I can. He wants to prove himself." Gauge shrugged. "Do we really need his help?"

"No. But… I can respect that he came anyway. Okay he's landing, make sure the ASF forces are defending. Clear a path for that Leopard to land."

"Already done before I called you up."

"Good. I guess I'll go out and say hello to Vincent."

The Leopard holding the young Baron had left before us on our trip out, but with having our own Jumpship we ended up here a bit before them. Looks like Vincent had been serious about fighting with us.

I could honestly respect that.

Of course now I will have to explain to him what our real goal here is, and that he can't run out and kick Combine ass.

"Commander! Enemy ASF movement!"

"Alright get our birds in the air double time, and let the Leopard pilot know they got incoming."

I settled in watching the dots representing all of the players on this field. Watching as our ASF force took off. The fast reaction, something they had been practicing just to make sure. After all, 100 miles sounds like a lot, until you are going at ASF speeds.

Watching four flights of Stuka flow into the sky to fight against the varied Combine ASF. We outnumbered them already thankfully. The Combine didn't have much ASF forces left. We had done a good job of knocking them out of the sky, and frankly, they didn't have a lot to start with.

"How is it going?" Benny asked as he pulled himself onto the bridge, his hair a little messy from just getting out of his bunk.

"Should be good. Vincent showed up in a Leopard. The Combine are trying to contest his re-entry but we already have our flights in the air. They probably aren't expecting us to know where they are at. Should be able to secure the sky before the Leopard hits atmo."

"Good! Good." He offered blinking sleepily for a moment as he fought back a yawn. "What are we going to do with them?"

"No idea." I sighed watching as the Stuka finally seemed to come into view from the Combine ASF and like had become routine, the enemy turned and burned. Desperate to get out of any strike range of the Stukas guns.

As I watched. We never did get close, but at least it meant they were too busy running away to contest the Leopard.

"Next time we see some Combine pushing in, including Vincent. It should satisfy his desire for fame and such."

"You sure Commander? You did give them some of our mechs. He might do some serious damage. It might disrupt the plan."

"I think you vastly over value our mechs Benny… Actually. This is a good chance. Make sure he has some backup, I don't want him to die, But without our sensors and such… It will be interesting if everyone sees the difference. Send him out, but keep him under control. And see what he can do."

"Wait. Did you just hand this massive headache off to me?!"

"Good luck Sub-Commander." I offer with a smile as I pat his shoulder. Bed time!

"Damnit Vicky!"

—--

A different Perspective

Vincent Allessa Baron. Captain of the Zaniah Guard 1st Lostech Lance.

Ko

"What a shithole."

"Captain, it's just farmland."

"It's cold! I hate this planet already."

"It's a Snake pit. Of course we should hate it. Come on. Looks like they are sending out a group to meet us. Who is that? The Commander? They should be grateful we came to help!"

"Shut up Marv. That is the 2IC. Eisen-Blume isn't here. And be grateful that bitch is scary." Although Vincent wasn't going to say that, he didn't disagree. Eisen-blume was a freaky little brat.

"Stow it. Both of you." He grumbled as he marched forward to meet Benny. "Benny, you brought us to a real shithole."

"It was actually pretty nice before we landed. Welcome to Ko. Honestly we didn't think you were going to make it."

"We had a deal. I'm not about to give back my new ride. What's the situation?"

"That is a good question. C'mon Commander wants you to have a full debrief on what we are doing here. It's complicated and we don't want to push the Combine too much."

"We don't want to push the Combine? The fuck are we even doing here then?" Marv whispered to Barry but with a Glare both stowed it like ordered. The guys were Vincent's childhood friends. He had gotten them into the Military, got them training, and they were his men. But that doesn't mean they were perfect.

Walking into the massive fucking dropship the brats were running around in always sent Vincents teeth on edge. These kids played with toys that would make any LCAF regiment drool with want.

But at least he had finally gotten his just deserts. They had given him a fucking Lostech Mech. So Vincent was here to fight in their stupid little battle. He would kill some more Snakes, get some salvage and go home richer and more powerful.

Maybe even enough to become the Heir. This might just be his real chance to convince the world he was the best one to be in charge.

"Alright, Vincent, here is our current understanding of the enemy positions and our defenses."

It took Vincent less than a second to realize what he had just walked into. "You are surrounded… fuck me did I just walk to my death?"

Benny snorted, the younger boy was always a little shit. "Relax. That's the plan. We have a bit of a surprise cooked up for them, but in order to make the impact that we need, we are gathering them up. Drawing them in." He waved a hand and the map zoomed out, which is something Vincent nearly whistled at.

Holomaps like this were rare. Zaniah had one, that was an old piece of equipment taken in a raid a hundred years ago. It worked. Mostly. But not nearly this clear, or without any lag. That same move without have taken three minutes for the map to load on the one at home.

"So you can see we are almost ready. The 22nd Dieron Regulars have pulled in almost all of their mechs. Give it another day and at least 90% of the mechs on the planet will be around us."

"That's a lot of metal. They will be able to fuck you over."

Benny looked up from the map and blinked for a second before a nasty smile slipped across his face. "That's what they think too. When we are done here. The Combine will remember us. I promise you that."

Rolling his eyes at the bravado Vincent was much more worried at the fact the map didn't look good. "Okay so I am here. Now. What am I doing."

"Actually the Commander wasn't sure at first, but as always she came up with a plan."

"Sasha told me you brats call those Vicky Plans, and they are usually fuck horrible."

That caused the boy to laugh while Vincent could see Marv taking it bad. The boy hated when people laughed at him. He waved a hand at him grabbing his attention gesturing for him to chill.

Benny finally stopped laughing before continuing. "Y-you got that about half right. See a Vicky Plan sounds okay ends up being a shit show, but always works out for the best in the end. Like us ending up on Zaniah. That was a Vicky Plan. Just don't ever tell her about that last part. We don't want her to know we trust her plans."

Vincent tried not to take it personally about his mothers hiring the brats being a shit show. Benny was right. It had been a bit of a shitshow after all. The fact they had found a Castle Brian alone still made Vincent's hands clench into fists whenever he was reminded.

"Okay so what is the plan?"

"Right, so this is important. Direct orders here Vincent. No matter what you do here, you can't push the Combine too much. If they retreat from their positions, or decide to go all in on an attack we fail."

Vincent blinked before remembering the reason the brats were even here. "You still looking for your people?"

A look of hatred crossed the normally affable Sub-Commander. Vincent took a step back before the boy took control of himself. "We are still working on it. Until we have them, we can't have anything push the Governor into thinking killing them off is the best way to do this. You get it?"

Vincent took a moment a breath in and out. If it was anyone else, but these brats Vincent might be trying to punch his face in for trying to hold him back, but Vincent actually sorta maybe a little tiny bit respected the brat. Benny was solid. Plus he piloted a fuckin Atlas, and the few times they had practiced with him in that beast of a machine had proven that he had the chops to pilot it too.

"I get it. But I'm not sitting around here all day. I came here to fight."

"Of course. You are going to take your lance, and a few tank lances and go poke the Combine, get a feel for them. Get a taste of what we are up against. Don't worry about doing anything but keeping your mechs in the best shape possible, and seeing what is out there. If you need to retreat do it."

Vincent almost felt insulted from the idea that he would need to retreat! Especially with the Lostech machines he and his Lance were piloting.

"Fine."

"Alright. Head south. Hit this defensive position." Benny pointed out changing the map, and while the map wasn't in real time, the actual numbers shocked Vincent.

"How Accurate is this?" He asked pointing towards the numbers of defenses. It even had a listed location for a minefield and where it was.

"Very. Our scouts are not to be trifled with." Benny offered with a dead serious look. "I got the updated report just a few minutes before you came in."

Vincent blinked surprised but knew that any question about the brats scouts would be ignored. It was the last time. Arthur had spent months asking about how they were able to keep an eye on the enemy during the Zaniah raid so well only to get ignored.

Vincent wasn't his brother, he shrugged. And took a close look at the military base he was targeting. Mostly tanks and vehicles, but they had a company of light mechs.

He nodded. "Alright. Let's get moving."

Marv was grumpy, but at least Barry looked ready. Fay was still on board. The bitch was practically sleeping in her cockpit now. But well.

Vincent could hardly blame her.

Her Catapult was a beautiful mech. But he had eyes only for his new girl.

The Battlemaster-1Gb was a beautiful mech. The assault was quick for an assault mech, but fit him perfectly.

Barry was jumping into his Griffin-2N His ERPPC would make him a solid long range sniper.

And Marv was in his Shadow Hawk-2Hb.

Vincent was confident these Combine bastards would have no idea what was coming for them. He felt a fierce grin split his mouth as he clambered into his mech. All four mechs starting up with a rumble of their fusion engines. Ready to go to war.

"Vincent. We are sending a company of tanks to back you up like I said. Let them cover your rear don't get too far ahead of them. I don't want those light mechs to get behind you and tear them up." Bennys voice came over his radio almost as soon as Vincent started up his mech.

"I got it already! I'm taking Command. Thanks Sub-Commander!" Vincent grumbled as he took his first step out with his mech, The Leopards bays opening and Vincent was in his element.

"Captain Alessa, This is Mitchell. I'll be your tanker today. Followin' you."

"Good I'll be moving at a good clip."

And he did just as he said. His Battlemaster stalking out into the farmland his lance forming up behind him, Fay's Catapult moved at the same speed as his Battlemaster so they set the pace, with the Shadow Hawk and Griffin bouncing along on their sides, keeping a scouting perimeter, something his brother had taught him.

Grumbling at that thought Vincent switched through a few imaging systems his mech had to check for any traps, but there wasn't anything he could see.

Hopefully the scouts the brats sent out were as good as they thought.

Stomping through the fields on a forign planet Vincent allowed himself a few moments of awkwardness. He had never been off Zaniah before. A new world. A New mech. In the middle of war. It certainly wasn't where he ever expected himself to end up. But he would do the best he could.

"We are coming up on them. All units, eyes open." He radioed out, his arms raised up, both ERPPC aimed down towards his enemy. He was ready.

And it was good he was, because their forces had been noticed. Already he could see a few helicopters and VTOL taking to the air. He unleashed his ERPPC, Barry joined him a second later, and although nothing was hit, it certainly scattered the air support.

"Let's go!" He roared his blood pumping as he brought his Battlemaster to a sprint. "Tanks setup a firing line!" He remembered to command as he moved closer, at the same time fire started coming in.

Turrets opened up along the walls, although only the longest range fire came anywhere close. In retaliation ERPPC fire opened up, Vincent firing his two guns like a gunslinger, each arm firing at a different target hitting more often than not.

Barry was more rigid, his shots aimed and focused. It meant they were making good headway into the turrets when the walls exploded outward.

"What the fuck!?"

Smoke dark and heavy rolled out, and it took only a few moments before it rolled all the way towards him. "Fuck! They are blinding us! Move back out of the smoke, don't go straight, adjust your path so you aren't where they last saw. Tankers stay together!" He demanded as he started stepping backwards still firing an ERPPC into the smoke every few moments just enough to keep his heat low but still sending something downrange.

"Enemy contacts! I jumped over the smoke, and saw at least a Lance of jumpers coming in!" Marv called out over the radio a moment later and Vincent cursed.

"That means there is probably another Lance or two on the way as well. C'mon let's get out of this smoke!"

He didn't quite make it out before the first mech found him. The Stinger came out of the smoke, and it was pure instinct that had Vincent fire at it. As he nearly jumped out of his seat it startled him so bad.

The pilot was good though. Jump jetting he dodged the lightning, the pilot even had the audacity of taking a step on his Battlemasters shoulder as it flew over him. The hit actually rocking him so hard in his cockpit that he felt his own shoulder bruising as he bounced around in his seat.

"Fucker!" He snarled, but even as his rear took a hit from the Stinger, Anther mech appeared infront of him. The Cicada opened fire Medium lasers burning scores into his armor, but he growled, opened fire with his own mediums. Four arcs of green cut into the Cicada and that startled it, just in time for his Large pulse laser in his chest to open up. The beam cutting through massive amounts of the bug mechs armor the pilot obviously realized he was in trouble as he suddenly bugged out into the smoke.

An ERPPC shot burning back into the smoke where the mech had gone, although Vincent wasn't sure it if hit.

Another scream of his computer as his rear armor was cut away again.

"Dammit! I got a jumper on my back!"

"Already handled." The calm voice of his Tanker came over and a moment later a thunderous noise echoed over the battlefield. The smoke spun away as a huge something ripped through it, and the Stinger got hit by something, smashing the mech completely onto its side.

Looking over Vincent got the image of an Alacorn tank it's three Gauss rifles aimed his way before the smoke filled in the space he had just cleared. Grumbling a little vincent shot an ERPPC shot into the stinger, coring it and ensuring it was out of the fight.

A PPC buzzed over his cockpit and he jerked aiming towards what had just fired on him, but he realized in a moment what was happening.

The damn thing gave him a shallow bow. That PPC was just a warning shot. Growling at the arrogance Vincent stopped himself from stomping the Alpha Strike button. Instead he bent his Battlemaster just the slightest amount. And accepted the duel.

Fucker. PPC fired first, almost instantly, a snap shot that had Vincent cursing as he barely managed to raise an arm over his cockpit to keep it from hitting him square on. Growling he hip fired his ERPPC watching as the Panther damn near twirled as it dodged the shot, and then he lowered his other arm and fired that one.

That seemed to catch the pilot by surprise it didn't quite manage to dodge. Its left arm sacrificed to limit the damage but then something changed.

That pilot wasn't playing anymore Vincent realized as he shifted SRMs blasting his armor as the Panther simply moved. Jump jets, shifting motions, Vincent started struggling to get any hit on target. His mediums worked the best, scoring a few lines in it's armor, but every other shot was like shooting the smoke they were fighting in. Even trying to get close didn't work.

Just like the stinger, whenever he did, the Panther jumped over him his ERPPC were dodged consistently, the enemy pilot always had his eye on Vincents arms. And it was pissing him off. Firing off a barrage of SRMs suddenly which only semi worked, his hands completely out of position Vincent let loose his Large pulse. The second surprise weapon worked better.

The Panthers armor sheared at the power of the Pulse laser and it's existence definitely shocked the enemy pilot. It earned Vincent the space he needed, as the Panther tried to dodge the laser, his ERPPC fired.

The Pilot. Whoever this guy was he was a fucking elite Vincent realized because his Panther despite just dodging a surprise attack, the pilot noticed and literally bent his Panther backwards the lightning bolt of his ERPPC firing over it's chest, before with a strange burst of jump jets it was back upright.

Vincent gaped.

That was fucking impossible. People can't just dodge everything! He nearly screamed but the crackle in his radio stopped the fight. "Vincent! We need to pull back! They are attacking Fay! Marv already took serious damage." Barry urgently called for him.

Right, this was a battlefield. And Vincent just wasted a lot of time in a fucking duel. He lowered his gun and moved backwards.

The Panther pilot watched but not continuing the fight even as the smoke rolled in fading him from view.

Thankfully it wasn't too bad. The Tankers had done a good job clearing their escape. Idly Vincent realized that was probably the plan from the start. The enemy lights all seemed to realize they were retreating and disappeared back into the smoke not willing to force a battle here.

When Vincent finally walked clear of the smoke he winced. Fay was torn up. One of her missile pods were gone.

Marv was limping. His Shadow Hawk was beat to hell. But other than a missing left arm at the elbow, and a leg that seemed to be damaged he was okay.

Barry was probably the best off. His Griffin and ERPPC made getting close to him a dangerous prospect.

"Zaniah Lance, report!"

"Alive Walking wounded." Marv checked in.

"Alive Orange armor." Barry.

"Alive Half done. Gonna need a mechbay." Fay called out sounding the angriest of them all. But she shouldn't be. This was Vincents fault not hers.

"Tankers Status?"

"Some minor armor damage on a few of us, but nothing serious."

"Good we are pulling back."

Vincent had a long walk back. Marv was barely at half speed. But that was fine. It gave him plenty of time to go back over the battle.

He had gotten his ass kicked by a Light mech.

"Dammit."

Marching back into the 'base' the brats had set up, Vincent went straight to his Hangar bay on the Leopard. Did he seriously just have one battle and screw up his chances of even taking part in this battle anymore?"

He was slow in shutting down his mech. It felt like failure. Ash on his tongue. This was supposed to be his great moment.

A knock on his cockpit pulled him away from his brooding as he glanced up and blinked. Quickly hitting the cockpit release, "Sasha. What are you doing here?"

"Heard you went out to fight. Pretty impressive." She told him simply as she looked him over. "I don't see any cuts, injuries?"

He shook his head. "Just some bruises. I'm fine. Nothing but my pride." He muttered.

She scoffed, like usual the woman cared nothing for his pride. "Let me see then." She orders as she climbed into his cockpit he sputtered as she settled in nearly in his lap. Although her armor made it more uncomfortable than he would have liked. "C'mon stop wasting time show me the bruises."

Her brusque tone gave Vincent no chance to resist, so he simply pulled the cooling suit down his shoulder showing the large bruise already forming there. With deft gentle movements she pulled out a container of some bruise balm and started spreading it onto his shoulder.

It did feel better.

"You did a good job." She whispers into his ear, and as he turns to look up at her she struck.

Oh… Oh! He felt himself grin as he returned her kiss. Both of them growing more eager.

He kicked out a few times, managing to hit the cockpit close button with his foot as he rolled her over and started trying to peel her out of her armor.

Damn brats. She had to stop and show him how to get out of it. Almost ruined the mood.

Almost.

—-

"Thoughts?" I asked. The gathering of our command staff on the bridge of WhiteBase had been a good idea. The smoke screen the Combine had used was something none of us had expected.

Gauge responded first. "The smoke was mostly just that. But the sensor shows it has some chaff element in there as well. Probably why it messed with sensors. It won't bother us, but for a normal Battlemech? Probably cause a lot of trouble unless you are quick to change what sensor you are using. Seismic would have still worked fine."

"Vincent is still as green as we are." Benny offered with a shrug. "It's a good example of what would have happened to us as well."

"At least we found out what those strange bombs the Combine have been setting up are. Thoughts?"

"Well if they try it again, a mech with a sensor will give them a nasty surprise. Otherwise we let them blow them up and retreat? Have a defensive line of tanks for a fallback point." Benny decided working out the problem in his head.

"This was a smart move." I finally added pointing to the Holoscren. That smokescreen was good enough to give their lights time to get close. That light company just chewed up four mechs that definitely outmassed them.

"But we knew they were up to something there. All we did was activate a trap we already knew was there. We just didn't know what it did." Benny offered.

Hanna though scoffed. "We let Vincent and his lance get chewed up. He is going to be pissed if he finds out we knew something was up and we didn't say anything."

"Maybe. But since we will be repairing his stuff on our dime, and we made sure he had a fallback point he doesn't have much room to complain. Welcome to war everyone. That is the sort of fights we would be facing if not for our sensors and other advantages." I offer out pointing to the map.

"Commander is right. This was… Eye opening." Benny admitted grumpily. "I expected our equipment to give us a better advantage but lostech… It wasn't enough to bridge the experience gap."

"But we don't have that problem. We have more equipment than Vincent has. If they had tried that move with us, we would have shot them as they charged into the smoke!" Hanna argued but I was shaking my head.

"The sensors are just one advantage, and we can always find ourselves in a fight without them someday. I'm glad Vincent came with now. This battle alone was worth it. Benny. Thoughts on how to improve our skills?"

He sighed. Shoulders drooping. "I don't know Commander. Frankly. We just don't have the schools, or teachers for that. Hire some elite mechwarriors to train us? Or send some kids to military academies… You could always get into the Nagelring."

I snorted. "No. That wouldn't work. Trust me I would burn that school to the ground within a month. I don't deal with arrogant nobles very well." There were some snickers around the room. "Okay so we aren't getting anything else from this fight. Let's wrap it up and focus on the current war. I want everyone ready. It's getting closer to the time for us to move. When we do… There won't be any allowances for screwups. Lock everything down people. This is a War."

Somber nods were my acknowledgment as the room emptied.

I stared out the window of the bridge somberly. I was glad the plan I had decided on had nothing to do with fair fights. Watching the Duel between Vincent and that Panther had spooked me too. Vincent wasn't a terrible Mechwarrior. He trained hard. And had some solid teachers.

That Panther pilot was an elite, and he had nearly won.

A fucking light mech going up against an assault mech. I blew out the frustration pushing my forehead against the cool glass.

"Thought I would find you stressing out." Hanna's voice pulled me away from the glass as she walked up beside me.

"We aren't ready for this. Everything is tethering on an edge, and I'm doing my best to pretend it's not. If these idiots just attacked us full tilt… Our losses would be catastrophic."

"But they won't because we have done a damn good job cutting out their eyes. They don't know what we have, and are more than happy to slowly try and pick us off, while waiting for reinforcements."

"Don't remind me." We had only been on Ko for a few days now, but it wouldn't long before another Combine force jumped in. I was honestly surprised it hadn't happened already.

"None of that. We got this. We are sitting on our hands playing their game for now. But your plan will work. We will get our people back, and give the Combine a real black eye."

"If everything works out. As Vincent learned today, the enemy get a choice too."

"Yeah, that smoke was crazy." Hanna admitted shrugging "But we both know it wouldn't work against us. Vincent popped a trap they thought would work on us, and look he made it out. Took some damage but made it out." Hanna settled in beside me looking back into the bridge as she rested against the glass.

"It's just. They have experience with this Hanna. They came up with a plan I wouldn't have even thought of, despite our advantages, they found a way to level the playing field. And when it was level? A fucking Panther nearly killed Vincent. I am almost afraid to watch Vincents Battle Rom of that fight. We fought him enough times. He is a solid mechwarrior."

"There are crazy elites out there Vicky. There always has been. I mean. You talk to Morgan Kell! Do you think that Panther pilot wouldn't have been ripped apart by him?"

"No Morgan would have beaten him. But Morgan Kell is Morgan Kell. He is one of the best mechwarriors in the entire Inner Sphere. Top 99%"

"Right. So stop stressing about them being more skilled than us. They aren't unbeatable. If you are that worried, use your bimbo brain to come up with a plan so we don't fight them at all. I mean isn't that basically what you are going to do?"

"Of course. Everyone in the Inner Sphere has been fighting almost ritually for almost a century now. We don't have to fight that way though. We have equipment they don't."

"Right. So in the future if you run into some elite asshole… Don't fight him. Just blow his ass up."

I snort, "Even if that won't always work, I don't think I can just murder anyone better than me with high explosives without something happening."

"That's where you are wrong Vicky. If something happens, you just use more explosives."

I turn to look at her with a quirked eyebrow.

She smiled shrugging. Rolling my eyes I went back to looking out over the base. So much was riding on what happens next.

I just hope it was enough.

15.5 All's Fair

3025

WhiteBase

Ko

Day 4.

I think it was a matter of experience. That even I fell into. We weren't super elite death squads yet. We still made mistakes, still came at things in a straightforward and blunt manner in a lot of ways.

I mean it worked. Because the rest of the Inner Sphere was so used to being 'careful' and 'securing logistics' and other things that weren't important.

So I was very pleased I had come up with a plan to handle our missing people without us actually having to find them in the first place!

Cause finding hidden people was hard.

"Commander?" Bennys voice crackled over a personal line. Today was it. The day we were done playing the weaklings.

The enemy, the 22nd Dieron Regulars had moved their entire regiment into an encirclement. One hundred and Twenty mechs in total. 80% of them are lights. With a few command Mediums. They also had the Planetary guard working on support. An entire Regiment of Vehicles, tanks and air support. Helicopters were new. They had tried a few over flights this morning, but had been shot down long before they caught sight of us.

Which was good. I would hate for the entire plan to be ruined if the enemy ran away.

And they would. I settled into my Nightstar. The noon sun overhead preparations were ready.

It was time.

I switched comms. An open channel to every person in the ISDF. Except for Delta. But that was another story.

"This is Commander Eisen-Blume. For the last three days I have held you back. For the last three days we have fought without exposing our strength. This was important. Today. Now you get to see why. The enemy are overconfident. They think they can tear us apart on our next assault. They think us cowards."

"That's fine." I felt my Nightstar start up. It's fusion engine rumbling. A faint tremor. More like the mech was trembling in excitement. Another chance to strike.

"Because I don't put much stock in the opinions of men that proclaim themselves honorable, even when they stand aside as people are butchered. As people are enslaved. These Honorable Samurai think themselves our superior."

Everyone felt what came next. The Camo netting that had been placed over every Long Tom fell away as the massive guns shifted aiming towards their targets.

Each and every gun aimed at a Lance or more of Mechs or tanks.

"Let's see how superior they are in an hour!" I roar. My Nightstar stepped out of Whitebase. It's armor pristine. And I had done a little extra.

I thought it was cool. The flag of the ISDF, the Iron Blooded Symbol. A ten foot long version was fluttering in the wind on the side of my mech. It hung down like my mech was wearing a Caparison like a medieval knight's horse. But it was very obvious and something that was totally stupid if I hadn't created it from my Nanoforge.

"All members! This is my order. Commence Operation!"

The roars broke out both over the comms line and just aloud echoed into the air.

The ISDF moved.

And in a single furious roar. That echoed over the entire farmland for miles and miles.

The ISDF let the Combine Samurai know their fury.

Eighteen Long Toms opened up with near perfect accuracy, aiming for the densest grouping of the enemy. Six Arrow IV missiles launched along with them. The missiles aimed at closer targets as they couldn't fire as far. But as one barrage of missiles fired. Another was already being loaded to fire as well.

And as the guns fired. As the ASF engines lit up and pushed them into the sky. The ground trembled for another reason entirely. An entire Regiment of Mechs charged out into the world.

Three Battalions. One hundred and eight mechs. And an equal amount of Vehicles roared out of the base in three directions. Each group Targeting the enemy military bases.

My Nightstar pointed nose towards the City. This march only had one ending.

—-

A different Perspective

Carl Shade Hauptmann ISDF Delta Ops

Ko, Jarlton city

Carl still wasn't sure if this was going to work. It had every hallmark of a Vicky plan. But damn if he wasn't willing to take the risk.

The Governor Kagemuchi had hidden himself away in an underground bunker. It was Delta's job to get to him. Honestly Carl was looking forward to this.

It was the first time Delta really got to do more than strike from the shadows.

"Everything is ready." The whispered word reached him and he nodded. The entire squad, although at this point they had expanded past just the initial four, was here. Three squads of Nighthawk clad badasses. Because Carl didn't recruit the most brave, or the most fit.

He picked the ones willing to die to do what needed to be done.

It was a secret he kept from The Commander. She wouldn't get it, and whine until he changed his recruitment. But everyone knew. If you were anti-social you went to Rough Squad. Lenden would sort you out. If you were willing to murder anyone to protect family, then you join Homeguard.

If you were willing to lay down your life you joined Delta.

Carl hefted his Mauser. The heavy rifle was too much for infantry, but the SLDF mainstay weapon was perfect for Nighthawks. Honestly Carl wondered if that wasn't intentional. If there was a plan in there somewhere for the SLDF infantry to all be power armored fighters eventually.

He shook that thought away and focused. The Governor thought he was safe. Thought no one knew where he was. Thought that an army of infantry could keep him safe. Thought that strong walls and defenses would be enough.

He was wrong. The order had come down. Don't let him escape. Don't let him make any calls. Secure him alive. They may need to trade him for the crew.

So Delta ops would perform.

He nodded to Samantha who nodded back, a detonator held in her hands. She plunged it together, and the building they were in shook. As did nearly a hundred locations all across the city.

The power then went out.

The governor just had every power line connecting to his little base go out. And the idiot didn't' have an internal generator.

Guard stations all across the city had also been targeted. It would keep them busy and out of any offensive action until the mechs were in the city.

Carl jumped down from the top of the building flaring his Jump jets to land in an easy crouch. Racing ahead. He was on point. The Sensor had already been used to create a path. He remembered every step. Every person that was a threat.

Their first mission had taught Carl a lot about preparing. He still smiled whenever he thought about the infiltration.

He didn't slow as he ran through the glass doors of the faux business front. Some generic office front. The Mauser was raised up and firing instantly, the security guard behind the desk dying in a spray of blood. The Submachine gun he had under the desk no longer a threat.

He kept moving. Delta following in his wake a wave of unstoppable killers. Skipping past three doors, he blew the door knob off the next letting Richard who was his shadow, chuck a frag grenade into the room.

They continued on. He shot the knob on the fourth door on the right the metal melting into nothing under the power of his Pulse laser. It led to a stairway which Carl instantly jumped out into the center and let his Jump jets guide him down. By the time he touched down on the ground he was already firing. The hallway through the door at the bottom would have plenty of men in suits with guns.

But now it was dark. Pitch black as the lights had been taken out. Delta didn't care. The Nighthawk had Nightvision.

Their resistance didn't matter to Carl. His Mauser blew through the steel door and into the men behind it. Lines of light piercing steel.

By the time he charged through it and Richard landed behind him, he was already in a firefight, Small arms skittering up his Nighthawk but failing to do more than giving him more targets. Richard joined him on his right. His Automatic Shotgun Spraying the hall with Shrapnel.

Samantha joined his left a moment later, her Mauser going full auto simply decimating anyone foolish enough to be seen by her. Then two more Nighthawk clad members of Delta hit their sides and they pushed forward in a line.

That Hallway was the entranceway, a long tunnel with multiple checkpoints down it's length. By the time all of Delta was on the floor it was now quiet. Carl pushed forward breaking into a full sprint. His JumpJets gave him some additional boost. A Maneuver he had trained for years for.

The few doors along the way were stopped and cleared by Delta by expediently chucking a Frag grenade into the room.

The screams were ignored. Delta had a fucking job to do.

The last door was armored. But that was what preparation was for. Instantly forming up he waited as Samantha planted an SLDF Explosive along the door. C6 or something. Carl didnt care what it was called.

He cared it blew things up good.

A few moments later Samantha backed up as well, and clenched the plunger.

The explosion would be deafening, it still was even with the Nighthawk helmet protecting their hearing as best it could. But Carl didn't wait. He already knew what was on the other side.

He rushed through the flames into a room that was more like an entrance way to a manor than a secret bunker.

He jumped using his jets to get to the second floor. The darkness was just as bad here and he felt himself grinning. Delta took care of the few guards in this section of the base. Carl had one job. Secure the hostage, before he could escape through the escape tunnel.

Yeah this guy was so scared for his life he had a secret escape tunnel for his secret bunker.

Carl hurried along, a quick check on his scanner confirmed his target. Looks like the governor was bolting.

Not a problem. Carl didn't bother slowing down for the fragile wood door in his way simply shouldering through it his Mauser already up and aimed. A few bodyguards were left behind to try and slow the assault. One died instantly as multiple pulses of his rifle ripped through the table he had been hiding behind. The other was firing.

A burst of his jets and Carl was over the man and falling, his armored left hand grabbed the needler and crushing it in his grip a foot planting down to knock the man flat where a second burst of his Mauser one handed ended that threat.

Carl continued moving. The escape tunnel was hidden under a rug, but it was also electronically locked.

A few bursts of his Mauser broke the lock and his gauntlet ignored the heat of melting metal as he pulled it open to rush after.

The nightvision was useful, the Governor was running ahead with a flashlight, but Carl didn't need it. Simply charging along at full tilt. His stomping stride was obviously heard, but it didn't matter. The Governor wasn't fat, but he was also well past his military service. Where Carl was fit, and in power armor.

He ran him down long before the man ever could have gotten away by slipping back into the city.

When he reached him, his first act was to grab the man by the back of his head and lead him right into the knee he pummeled into his stomach.

The retching noise of the man being hit by a solid metal knee was sweet on Carls ears. A second knee put out any fight in the man, the gun in his hand knocked away as Carl slammed him into the wall of the tunnel.

"Where are they!" He demanded once he had the man pinned down only the knowledge they needed him alive kept Carl from continuing to strike the man until he stopped moving.

"I-I don't know! Who do you want! I know where lots of people are!" The governor babbled once he caught his breath but it took a moment before Carl realized this idiot didn't even know it was attacking him!

Slamming his face against the wall again earning a squeal of pain Carl started again. "The members of the Iron Blooded you kidnapped from the Isaribi! Where are they!" He roared.

"You are with them!?" The governors eyes were full of fear, but the actual shock at what he was seeing was even stronger. "Who are you people! These things don't exist!" He screamed but Carl was not interested in answering questions.

The fist buried in his gut seems to bring a moment of silence. As carl pushed his armored face plate against the gasping mans face.

"I exist. I am here. And I am angry. Where are my people?"

"I will tell you nothing! They will die if I am not relea-"

Slamming him against the wall again Carl growled. "You will die if you do not."

That seems to sneak through some inkling of the situation for the man as finally he started talking.

—-

By the time we hit the Combine defensive position it was chaos.

Our artillery had been almost perfectly on target. Plenty of Light mechs had been hit so accurately by the Artillery Unit that the Long Tom round had passed directly through the mech. Of course the explosion of the high explosive Long Tom Rounds then meant scraps of mechs were scattered all over the ground.

I didn't care about any of that. As we walked up. The enemy were trying to resist. Light mechs were jumping around trying to stay mobile so as not to be targeted by Artillery, but that just left them in our sights for the first rounds of our Gauss.

The sight of multiple Light Mechs falling from the sky riddled with holes sent the enemy into a frenzy. They threw everything at us.

I was in the lead. But I was not about to stop. Even as a PPC burned against my mechs shoulder. Even as LRMs landed around us. Even as Infantry fired shoulder mounted SRMs.

This was our moment. If we faltered here we would have a long slog of a battle ahead of us. I kept the momentum going. Not once did my Phantoms heavy footfalls slow. My Gauss were fired off as soon as they cycled. My ERPPC thundered. They targeted me. Of course they did. I was in the lead. Wearing a massive flag on my mech.

That was fine. Because I had an entire battalion of very angry mechwarriors at my back. And a battalion of tanks behind them.

Plus the Artillery. "Danger close" was just a cute word for my people. Artillery continued to rain on the enemy even as they realized how fucked they were. Light mechs fell like wheat to us.

Where every battle before this we stumbled when we were struck back. This time when the Combine Samurai tried that. All it did was end in fire and thunder.

I just had to hope that the absolute shock of our assault would mean we wouldn't take any losses. But even I wasn't hopeful for that. Even as we finally broke the defenders at this military base. Their walls smashed, their turrets melted, Infantry, mechs and vehicles surrendering under our onslaught.

Some tried to retreat.

The light mechs that had run were still being targeted. The tanks that rolled away were pounded. The ones that thought themselves smart by going underground?

They too were faced with rounds shattering whatever entrance they might have escaped into.

The ISDF were here. And we were angry. And it was happening on three different fronts at once. Our ASF were in the air. Gabe led them around to any air resistance the Combine still had.

We marched through the military checkpoint they had been setting up against us without slowing, and simply marched into Jarlton. The capital was a massive modern city and nothing was left capable of resisting us. A few armored vehicles were deployed but with the sensor they never stood a chance. Which is why when I marched through the streets my Caparison waving in the wind.

People noticed. Sure most were smart enough to hide. But not all of them. Some too stupid to run away during an attak, some too slow. Some simply want to see their potential end. We made a hell of a sight. My Nightstar was beaten. Bloody. Bruised. But my flag still waved. A hole through part of it, where an AC round had gone through, but it was still clear. Still visible.

I walked straight to our objective. The Governor's mansion. It was a beautiful Japanese manor, two stories surrounded by ancient looking walls. We walked through, uncaring about what damage we did. I walked up to the front of it's massive doors. Before turning my Nightstar now a physical guardian keeping any one from entering.

Not long after that, the fighting died down across the three battlefields. The Long Toms finally quieted.

Ko was conquered.

I don't know how I felt about it. I had never wanted to put myself or my kids in this position, but if it was to protect them I would conquer, and conquer again. Hopefully I wouldn't have to.

—-

The enemy wasn't totally defeated at this point. Although the stragglers weren't faring well. The mechs that ran were hunted down by kill squads. Doesn't matter how fast you can move if no matter where you hide a lance of assault mechs hunt you down.

Humans were endurance hunters. My kids brought that old fact back up on Ko.

But the main focus of the next few hours were the acts of Delta ops.

Carl had done it. While ensuring the Governor wouldn't be able to send out a message to execute any of the kids. They had managed to secure the man.

Carl had even found out where they were.

I had gone with my Nightstar as Delta and a Lance of mechs had hunted down the building our kids had been kept in. It was rather obvious to all of us why we hadn't found them.

They were being held in a brothel.

I swore that if even a single one of my kids had been raped the Combine would pay. The brothel was big. More of an upper class pleasure house than anything. This made me think more Geisha, than back alley.

I was still furious when I dismounted and kicked the door in. Two Nighthawks at my back and my laser pistol in my hand. The people inside were cowering. Obviously workers of the place. But I wasn't interested in them.

Yet.

"You have thirty seconds to bring out my kids."

"There is no need for such rudeness." The voice called out a thick japanese accent leant to a very peculiar spoken english but it was understandable enough. "We will comply with your demands Onna-Bushi." The woman was old. A full kimono and walking with a cane. But the way the girls and boys in the entranceway turned to her. I had probably just found the owner.

"Twenty seconds." My glare must have told just how serious my threat was, and with a jerk of her head some of the people in the front ran off.

About five seconds before my threat would have been forced out of me. Someone wearing a kimono that I recognized walked cautiously out of the back room.

Sandra was done up beautifully. But that only made my teeth grind. Her hazel eyes widened in shock when she saw me. And I could instantly see the tears there. My arms were already open when she ran into me. "Vicky!" She cried into my shoulder. My arm was full, but I kept my weapon free despite holding my kid tight, my eyes promised nothing but death to the old woman.

"She is untouched."

The very fact the woman realized what was causing my anger only made it worse. This bitch knew and probably 'took care of' the girls captured.

"I was told all of my people are here."

"Yes. The others are coming. Some were in classes… My people are gathering all of them as we speak. There is no need for violence here."

"There already has been violence here. Kidnapping is an act of violence!" I snarled but it was Sandra crying in my shoulder that quieted me.

"That is so." The old woman nodded but nothing else came from her. No apology or sympathy.

I ignored the old woman after that focusing on Sandra as the girl held onto me for support. Finally she seemed to pull herself together for a moment her eyes tear streaked and red she let out a huff of laughter. "What's that on your face Vicky?"

I blinked before remembering the facepaint. "New tradition. We put it on whenever we go to war… It's to remind us that if we die someone will cry." I explained and that had her tearing up but nodding.

"Thank you. For coming."

I tilted my head a little confused. "Why wouldn't I come?"

We stare at each other for a few moments before she bursts into laughter and grabbing me into another strong hug, her laughter turned to sobs again but that was okay she was safe. Whatever that had been about I would do everything I could to fix it.

Over the next twenty minutes more of my kids were brought forth.

I had already called in a few trucks to pick them up but it was a tearful exchange, many of them…

They hadn't been treated well.

Told that their future would be as a prostitute and punished if they refused.

I heard many horrible stories from their lips and it was only because in the end we were the good guys that I didn't lose my cool.

Sandra stood by me. The girl had been their captain. She was guilting herself into believing she was responsible for their circumstances.

She had apparently decided to surrender rather than fight the raiding party that attacked them.

I didn't blame her.

But unfortunately, with the good news.

Came the bad.

"Mal, Rich, and Emma all… Died." Sandra admitted when the numbers finally came in and they were missing.

"How?" I couldn't say anything more. My throat was closing up.

"They tried to escape. Emma… She had been chosen by some Nobleman. Or Samurai I guess he liked how she looked. Decided to buy her out, that's the only way any of us would be… taken. We were all being trained to make ourselves more valuable… Mal and Rich refused… You know how they are. Those three were best friends." Sandra was crying then and pulled her into a hug my own eyes tear filled.

"They were caught trying to steal weapons. The officer that caught them shot them."

I swallowed my rage. She didn't need that now. "Don't suppose you remember who?"

She shook her head and I didn't let that frustration out. I would have loved to find that particular officer. But considering how butchered the planetary defenses currently were?

He was probably already dead anyway.

"C'mon. Let's go Sandy. This whole thing is over. It's time to go home." The blurring of her eyes once more in tears told me just how much those words meant to her. I guided her and my other kids out of the building, into Normans that had been sent to pick them up. The group of 39 of my kids were given an escort that would make a leader of a great house blush.

Now that they were back with us, we wouldn't let anything happen to them.

—-

Everything was rather tense even with our people returned. We couldn't quite celebrate our peoples return since we were standing on a planet that we had all but in name conquered.

"We should stay. We can put down a base, have the LCAF come in and settle down." Benny offered the first one to speak as the meeting started.

I was doubly thankful that I wasn't the one to speak up next. Gauge took that over for me. "We aren't here to do that Benny. We don't have… any training for that. We should get our people, gather up and leave. We already did enough. If the LCAF wants this world it won't take much to secure it for them."

My mouth opened but Benny waved me off. "Not yet Commander. Let me talk first. I know we aren't supposed to be conquerors but we are already here. We have seen that this planet has it's problems. I never said it before but the Combine are our enemies. Now it is a personal matter. We should keep working. We can put some serious hurt on the Combine just by taking this world. The Coordinator won't stand for that. He will send more. Right now we are the best equipped regiment in the Inner Sphere. We should use that. Now. Force the Combine to keep expending their strength on us. We can take it. We can dig in. Become an immovable position right here."

I knew that Benny was hinting at creating a Castle here. But I shook my head. "I know what you are feeling Benny. I feel it too. My stomach clenches every time I think of what they did to our people." The looks around the room all turned dark every hint at what had happened to those captured tended to cause some very fierce glares.

But I breathed out a heavy breath. "But we have to be better."

My common refrain seemed to do it as even Benny looked a little abashed. "Isn't fighting the combine the right thing?"

I shrugged. Which seemed to startle him a bit. "I don't know. Honestly. Truly. I don't know if going to war permanently with the Combine is the right thing to do. It feels good, sure. The idea of going out and fighting against the evil Combine. Like we are right back in Immortal Warrior right?"

That reminder of our adventure earns me a few chuckles and a lightening of the atmosphere. Slightly.

"But war is something the Combine are very familiar with. Don't kid yourself, everyone. If the Combine had wanted us gone. They would have destroyed us. Nukes. Bioweapons. Overwhelming force. The Coordinators of the past have used all of these against stubborn elements."

"You think they would nuke us!?" Hanna asked shocked, the rest of the room joining in.

"Yes. Without a doubt. In a heartbeat even. Ko is a useful world, but if the Coordinator felt he was about to lose it? That an enemy like us that could dig in and never be pushed out would take it? Yes. He would burn a nuke. Accept the political repercussions and sleep soundly that night. We aren't big enough to go Conquering Benny. We are small enough still despite everything that if someone decides to just flip the board. We lose the game."

"So we just up and leave? After everything we did here?" Benny demanded. It was probably the loudest he had ever gotten with me.

"No. In fact we don't do that at all. We spend the next few days salvaging, taking our stuff and our people and head home. But we aren't leaving them without a little reminder that we were here. After all Benny I made a promise." I pulled it out of my pocket. A little something I had cooked up a few nights ago, in my spare time.

"And I don't break promises."

—--

It was a parade.

Of sorts.

My people, almost all of them in fact, were heading into the city. The people were watching in shock as once more Lostech mech after Lostech mech stomped into their city down their thoroughfare. My Nightstar in the lead as we headed once more for the Governors Manor. It was there I had decided to hold our last act on this world.

This was a statement.

As I walked I could see the faces of the civilians. Many of them talking and pointing. It didn't matter that we were enemies. It didn't matter that we had already walked down this road the day before. To the people on the street it was part of the show. Especially since we hadn't done a single C-bill worth of damage to the city itself. Outside of military targets anyways.

They were probably shocked at how gentle this invasion was.

Well I liked the idea of completely walking away without shattering even a single brick, but that wouldn't happen. Not today.

I walked through the Governor's gates, destroying them. Across his perfectly kept lawn, uncaring about the long foot prints left in the green grass as I marched up to the Two story building.

Then I started shooting.

And it wasn't just me.

Within twenty minutes the fires were out, and there was nothing left of the building. The remains stomped flat.

Then carried in between four Atlas a structure was walked into place. The Grade 10 Ferrocrete had been something I built just before this. As it was placed atop the rubble my kids went to work. Those that had skill building libraries jumped in with construction equipment. Each side of the building was secured with massive poles made of thick Ferrocrete. The damn things were nearly as tall as an Atlas, and were hammered into place by the mechs as well.

The sound drew even more attention than what had come before. People were wandering closer to see what it was we were doing.

Other than a good amount of my people on security keeping an eye on the crowd in case someone decided to attack us. We let them. The crowd growing even as the spectacle continued.

Then boxes were dropped off. The object I had pulled out in my meeting was distributed. The first to move were the 39 we had recovered. Each of them took the Iron flowers and just like we had once done on Zaniah dove them deep into the ground around the building we were putting up.

Then more and more. And this time I told them to place as many as they like.

Other than the single walkway, flowers were planted throughout the night. And many tears along with them. I gave no grand speech this time. This was a personal moment for each of my kids.

In the morning my engineers had finished their work. With my 'help' in secret that night. A Memory core was planted deep in the ground. Along with a kill switch. The building above became the smallest but probably most eye-catching library we had built so far.

As long as the Combine left it alone. Someday. When it was time to release the full Memory Core to the Inner Sphere they would have theirs.

If they decided to destroy the Library? Then they would get nothing.

By Mid-afternoon the next day we still had quite a crowd, plenty of people wondering what was going on, what we were doing.

Then when everything was done. Kagemuchi was driven onto the site. Delta had done a good job holding him over the last two days, the man looked rough, but unharmed. His hair is a mess and clothes in disarray but no new bruises. He was in perfect health.

Then the men that had been holding the crowd back moved in. Settling instead among the fields of red flowers at the foot of the new library. The front doors were open and there I stood. The Phantom was over my head, The Long ISDF flag fluttering above me as I waited. The Governor was loudly complaining about his handling as he started snapping at the guards guiding him up, but when he finally caught sight of me.

He stopped. And started struggling backwards.

It made sense. The Governor may be my enemy, but I wouldn't treat him as a fool.

No one wants to walk towards the person holding a bear blade. The Katana I was holding idly in my right hand should be familiar with the Governor it was his.

A symbol of his office and status as a Samurai of the Combine.

I waited as he was pulled forward and the crowd noticed. They came in, putting pressure inwards until he was at my side, my kids keeping the crowd back more with their presence than anything else. The fact they were all heavily armed and backed by Mechs leant a certain fear in the crowd as they stared at the show I was about to put on.

The Governor was pale. Terrified.

I let the blade shift causing him to nearly jerk to his side only to find himself unable as some of the biggest men in the ISDF held him in place.

I opened my mouth, but my words echoed from above. My Phantom echoed out what I said to the crowd. "I am Commander Victoria Eisen-Blume. ISDF First Division the Iron Blooded Orphans. I have come to this planet, because my people were taken by your governor in a raid. If he had been reasonable, I would have gladly paid for their safe return, and I would never have set foot on this world."

I raised the sword letting it rest against the mans throat. But I wasn't looking at him. I was looking at the crowd.

"I am not an invader. I am not a warmonger. I do not enjoy battle and bloodshed. Lives were lost because I came here. Both yours and mine. Families broken, and destroyed because this mans greed."

I could almost feel his pulse through the sword it was pressed so close to his jugular, but I wasn't a murderer.

"Governor Kagemuchi has paid dearly for his greed. So has the Combine. The 22nd Dieron Regulars, your former protectors are gone."

I let that echo around. Many of the crowd probably didn't know quite how complete the battle had been on our side. During the salvage operations ongoing Delta and Rough Squad were still securing the AO. They had turned away plenty of civilians at gunpoint.

"The 22nd no longer has a mech to their name. They no longer have a tank, or any other heavy vehicle. The ISDF have completely, and fully destroyed the regiment. They stood between me and rescuing my people."

"They don't anymore."

I let that echo out into the crowd.

"If we were any other force in the Inner Sphere, your city would be on fire, we would be looting your resources, if not outright settling in after our conquest of your world."

"Lucky for you we are not. We are the ISDF. That name has meaning! We are the defenders of the Innocent. Not Tyrants here to claim your possessions. We spread knowledge freely!" I point to the building behind me.

"This Library has courses and books free for anyone who wishes them. It's the same data we plant on Lyran Worlds. On League Worlds! We will plant this information on the worlds of the Federated Suns, on the worlds of the Confederation! To any Periphery world we can reach!"

I looked out over the crowds. Stared into the eyes of the reporters who had their cameras rolling. To the people that were scared. Afraid about what would happen to their lives now that their 'defenders' were gone.

"The dark age is over. The ISDF is here. We will re-light the future of the Inner Sphere one world at a time. These are my ideals. The ideal of the entire ISDF. It is what we train for, what we fight for."

"But to those out there with greed in their heart? I will throw those ideals away in order to protect my family. Like we have here. If you think we can be bribed you will find out you are wrong. If you think we can be blackmailed, you will find that useless. If you think we can be suborned by capturing my people and using them as hostages?"

"We will come."

I turned away from the crowd looking to the Governor who was doing his best to keep the very sharp blade from piercing his skin.

"Governor Kagemuchi. You kidnapped my people. My Family. Attempted to hold their lives hostage so you could steal our equipment. You wanted my dropships Governor. How do they taste when you choke on them!?"

The crowd was silent.

My people were stern faced, but I could feel the bloodlust shimmering off them.

But this was the moment. The sort of moment that alters the course of a group.

"This blade. It's yours. I am told Samurai view their blades as a part of them, a symbol of your honor."

I turn with a strong motion slam the blade into a crack in the ground then heave.

The blade snapped with a loud ring. As I held the hilt. Ending in a jagged blade.

"There is your honor. As broken in blade as it exists in your soul."

Without the blade held to his throat the Governor regained a bit of color. And a bit of spine. "You will not get away with this! You insult not only me, but the Dragon! His claws will claim your life!"

"Governor. Or should I just say Mr. Kagemuchi. You are directly involved in a plot that potentially lost the Coordinator a planet. And an entire Regiment of his men." I stepped in close until our noses were touching, although I had to bend down a little as I was quite a bit taller than the man.

"Who exactly between the two of us needs to worry about Dragon Claws?"

That was it. I had nothing left to say. I walked away, my people with me. The Crowd split finding themselves standing among the red flowers as we climbed into mechs and walked out of the city.

Behind us stood something unique. Walls fit for a Planetary ruler. But a broken open gate. Inside a field of red flowers, immortal as only iron can be, then a small squat ugly building but inside a comfortable room filled with computers each having access to knowledge that while not lost, is difficult for the common person to get. All in easy to follow courses and classes.

A small sign was the only verbal remark left behind by its creators.

The Iron Blooded Library.

All are welcome. Knowledge is the light that guides us towards the future.

Protect it.

—--

"What is that?" I asked, I was overseeing the dropships being loaded up. You would not believe how much stuff we had brought with, and that we had picked up in just a few days. The amount of salvage I had been given puppy dog eyes over was getting old, but it was this that was most interesting.

The boys of Rough Squad and their leader all jerked in surprise at my question. They were all in the back of Pegasus Base. Hidden deep in the spare storage bay. The boys of rough squad were all gathered around a stack of containers.

Containers that hadn't been there when I reviewed the loading.

Lendens surprise quickly shifted to a calm. "Nothing Commander, just making sure my boys are keeping busy helping get everything loaded up."

"Not only do I not believe you. Ever. I'm also not stupid. Why do you have a container full of contraband Lenden?" I pointed to the Container that had been quickly hidden behind a few of the Rough squads tallest members backs as they tried, and failed to create a human wall to block my vision.

"Contraband? Commander! I protest that! This is loot! A very large difference from Contraband!"

"It wasn't on the manifest. You are going to overweight the dropship, we are already loading down Lenden you can't just fill up the ship without telling anyone."

"It's on the manifest! Filed under miscellaneous equipment."

"And who put that on the manifest exactly." I mutter pulling out my noteputer that had the manifest, and indeed there was a rather heavy amount of weight on the Pegasus listed under Misc equipment.

The boy looked a little uncomfortable for a moment. Before shrugging. "Guess you caught me Commander. I went in and put in the weight of our salvage in the manifest."

The easy admittance forced a snort out of me. "Okay so it was Benny then." I agreed.

Lendens eyes widened in shock. "What no way! It was me!"

"Please Lenden, I have known you for a decade. The only time you ever admit to a crime is to protect someone else that had done it. It's one of your few redeeming traits." I tell him with a chuckle enjoying his pouty look.

"Okay before I decide anything. Why do you even have… One hundred and ten tons of salvage? Jesus Lenden did you rob a museum or something?"

"No the Governor." he replied easily with a grin. "Well that and the 22nd. We stole a bunch of their mechs after all."

I blinked. I hadn't know that. "When did you steal their mechs? Why wasn't I told?"

"Please Commander you were freaking out. We stole a few out from under them at night, and a few were taken when we jumped their people. One was taken at the end. We hunted down some asshole in a Cicada for like ten hours after the big battle. We caught him napping."

"Please don't tell me any more. I don't want to have to court martial you for war crimes that I am sure I am about to hear." I rubbed my face. "If Benny already okayed it. And it's full of mech salvage Rough Squad commandeered I guess I can allow that. But what else is in there?"

"Well we did pick up a nice present for you Commander!" Lenden offered with a sinister grin his arm wrapping around my shoulder as he pulled me towards the container. "I remember how you always complained you didn't have a fancy hover car like the Governess does. Well. Governor Kagemuchi didn't need his anymore…"

I knew I was barely hiding my interest when I tried to 'casually' ask "Does it have heated seats?"

"Commander! You wound me! Or Wound Kagemuchi! He is a man of taste and class! My ass was toasty as shit when I drove this thing back."

"Well. Since it's already stored…"

—-

As the drives of my dropships shot us off Ko. After my normal sickness, I kept myself busy. There was a lot of work to do. You would think after a planetary invasion would be the slow part but it wasn't.

Repairs. Settling everyone after their success.

Mourning those that had fallen.

Not just from the Isaribi. We hadn't gotten away completely unscathed despite how well we had done.

During the final assault Benny lost a Rhino with all hands, to the Combine. They had apparently realized what was happening and attacked rather than tried to retreat. They had died like Samurai.

In a worthless charge that only minimally worked.

But it lost us three people.

That wasn't all. Despite Lendens fake upbeat attitude Rough Squad had a few losses. Infantry were not meant to sneak onto bases and steal equipment.

We had ten losses from Rough Squad. The fact Lenden had kept it from me had earned him an ass kicking when I found out. But it was done.

Our final assault hadn't left us untouched either. A lucky shot had cockpit killed one of our Highlanders. Daniel was still raging about it.

We had conquered a world for Fourteen Iron Blooded Orphan lives.

It honestly didn't feel equal. Their lives were worth more than some measly planet.

And yet. As the dropship pulled away as we finally started heading home, I could only feel relief that we hadn't lost more. That at least we had saved more than we lost.

Six days of dealing with crying kids. Either from loss, or what they had gone through. Six days of trying to bring order to chaos.

And on the last.

As always things got complicated.

"Commander! Jumpship sighted! Markings confirmed… 5th Sword of Light." Captain Gilbert called out once I came hurrying onto the bridge. After the alert had sounded.

Fuck. The Swords of Light were the Combines most elite Regiments. Not only were they the best of the best, the most skilled mechwarriors, they were also the regiments that were given the best equipment.

"Captain. How is the Clementine?"

"Not a worry Commander. They are parked far enough away not to be in any danger."

"Okay… are we in trouble here?"

The captain hesitated. "I don't know. They could intercept if they burn hard… But they only have Overlord Dropships. I would bet our Colossus against them in every engagement. Even with our… hodgepodge crews. Plus our ASF forces have proven their worth."

"Captain! Commander! Call incoming from the dropship!"

"Commander?" The Captain asked, and I nodded. Settled into a chair before the Holovid.

"Go ahead and accept it."

"Roger!"

The vid fuzzed a moment, we were close enough to a near 1 to 1 connection but it was still a long distance.

The man took a few moments once the connection firmed before he began speaking. "I am Tai-Sho Palmer Conti. 5th Swords of Light."

"Commander Victoria Eisen-Blume. ISDF, Iron Blooded Orphans."

We watched each other for a few minutes, the man was settled behind a wooden desk of all things as if he was just in his office for another day at work.

"You are quite busy for a Tri-Vid Star. Perhaps you should have stayed on the movie sets rather than come to our worlds?"

I blinked. That was a… Weird statement. Plus that damn movie was going to haunt me. It wasn't even that good! It was kinda cheesy! Even if the kids made me watch it all the time.

"My people were taken. So I came. Tai-Sho Conti, I am on my way back to Lyran space. It shouldn't take you long to realize that out here I have you helplessly outgunned. Let us pass."

He blinked before snorting, "It is not the Combines doctrine to allow a retreating force to escape. Especially after a raid on our world. You should power down your drives Commander. We will only execute you for the audacity. The rest of your people will be taken alive."

For a moment I had a reflexive instinct to order the dropships to turn towards the fuckers. It was one thing to take out a regiment like the 22nd Dieron Regulars. Sure losing a regiment was horrible for the Combine, but losing the 5th Sword of Light?

I doubt the Coordinator could have enough people commit Seppuku to recover from it.

But I wasn't here to wound the Combine… Anymore than I already had.

Instead I decided to take a different track. "Retreating?" I spoke aloud, letting the word echo. The bridge crew around me were all smiling now. I turned to look at them. "Are we retreating? Why wasn't I informed? Captain Gilbert! Shame on you for not informing me we were retreating!" I mocked, and the crew were breaking into sniggers, or giggles.

Captain Gilbert was shaking his head even as he tried to hide a smile breaking out across his lips.

Conti was looking at me like I was something odd. "Your amusement will not last Commander."

"Oh Tai-Sho. You shouldn't make promises you can't be sure of. Let me guess Tai-Sho. You jumped in, and noticed us approaching and decided to reach out before actually contacting the surface of Ko? Or are you still waiting for a response?"

I will give him this. Me flipping the script mocking and laughing at him did nothing to damage his calm. "We will hear from the surface shortly, Commander. But it is your life that is being decided here. And the lives of your crew."

"My crew will happily fight you Tai-Sho. It is only my desire to end our action against the Combine here that stops them from continuing. We are leaving. If you attempt to stop us, we will remind you of the difference between our ships."

"Meaningless. You have just come from a raid. You will have losses and be tired. We are fresh. You can not match us."

"Fourteen."

The man blinked, before seeming to realize I was playing a game with him, "Girl. I am not interesting in-"

"I had fourteen losses in total during the rescue operation on Ko."

"I no longer have time for jests. Surrender."

"Fourteen people died Tai-Sho. I like that number. It's a low number. Even still too high. But if you attack it will go up. But if you attack. I will destroy you utterly. Just as I did to the 22nd Dieron Regulars. They no longer exist. Good Day Tai-Sho."

I flip the switch on the Holovid. Letting the mans face disappear into static. "Captain keep us moving, but keep a damned close eye on them. I want to know the moment they do anything."

"Understood Commander!"

—-

In the end the Tai-Sho of the 5th made a token effort to chase me down. His drives 'slowing' without appearing to do so a few hours after they started burning for us. It seems they finally got an update from Ko.

I don't know what they were told. But it didn't matter to me. I watched the darkness of space as my dropships attached to the Clementine and the Jumpship powered and ready quickly disappeared us into nothing.

Last edited: 10/3/2022

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